December brings delights to movie theaters as the world’s biggest stars heat up the big screen while it’s cold outside.
We are proud to bring you inside the holiday movie season with a preview of the who, what and where of Hollywood’s annual gift to moviegoers.
December 3
Black Swan
Starring:Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis
What it’s about: Rival dancers vie for the lead in a New York ballet company’s production of Swan Lake. But, to call this simply a ballet movie would be highly simplistic. It is from the mind of Darren Aronofsky and is one of the most intense psychological thrillers of the year.
Interesting fact: Natalie Portman is on the fast track to earning an Academy Award nomination for her performance. Also, don’t miss our exclusive clip from Black Swan!
I Love You Phillip Morris
Starring: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor
What it’s about: Ewan McGregor and Jim Carrey play destined lovers who have one small problem — one of them is in jail. The con man escapes from jail, solely to be rejoined with the love of his life. Expect funny and touching moments in this highly-anticipated film.
Interesting fact: I Love You Phillip Morris had seen its release date get delayed on several occasions, so it’s stellar to see the film finally see the light of day.
December 10
The Tourist
Starring: Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie
What it’s about: Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie play cat and mouse in a suspense thriller from the director of The Lives of Others.
Interesting fact: SheKnows went to Paris to interview Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie and bring you unparalleled access into The Tourist beginning December 6, only here on SheKnows Entertainment.
Don’t miss Johnny Depp featured in Man Candy Mondays >>
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Starring: Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Liam Neeson
What it’s about: It’s the third time around for the Narnia franchise and CS Lewis’ classic tale shines the spotlight on the two youngest of the Pevensie kids returning to the world of fantasy ruled by an impressively empowering lion.
Interesting fact: For the third chapter in the Narnia series, filmmakers have decided to present their latest foray into Narnia-ville in 3D.
The Fighter
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo, Amy Adams
What it’s about: The true story of the boxing brothers of Lowell, Massachusetts and their most unlikely and dramatic rise to the top.
Interesting fact: SheKnows is all over this film. Don’t miss our interviews with Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Mark Wahlberg the week of December 6!
Frankie and Alice
Starring: Halle Berry
What it’s about: Berry plays a stripper suffering from massive split personality disorder.
Interesting fact: Berry went into deep seclusion to explore the many sides of multiple personality disorder in order to find the right tone for her part in Frankie and Alice.
The Company Men
Starring: Chris Cooper, Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones
What it’s about: The film that premiered at Sundance in January arrives in theaters as one of the first to deal directly with the personal effects of the current recession that was almost a depression. What happens when the economic world falls apart and how does that influence the lives of average Americans? With its outstanding cast, The Company Men is sure to be on Oscar’s short list.
Interesting fact: Ben Affleck and Chris Cooper star for the second time together in 2010. Their last flick, The Town, was an absolute smash.
Hemingway’s Garden of Eden
Staring: Mena Suvari, Jack Huston
What it’s about: An American couple heads to Europe to celebrate their honeymoon.
Interesting fact: Garden of Eden is the book by Ernest Hemingway that was discovered long after his death.
The Tempest
Starring:Helen Mirren, Felicity Jones
What it’s about: Helen Mirren stars as the sorceress Prospera in this film loosely based on the Shakespeare play.
Interesting fact: The Tempest is from the mind of Titus creator Julie Taymor.
December 17
How Do You Know?
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Jack Nicholson, Paul Rudd
What it’s about: It’s a New York love triangle between Paul Rudd and his girlfriend Reese Witherspoon while Owen Wilson tries to work his way into Witherspoon’s life. Meanwhile, Nicholson plays Rudd’s father in his second James L. Brooks film in several years with the last being As Good As It Gets.
Interesting fact: SheKnows Entertainment is heading to New York City to meet the cast including chats with Witherspoon, creator James L. Brooks and the legendary Jack Nicholson, for the first time talking on SheKnows’ pages!
Tron: Legacy
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde, Garrett Hedlund
What’s it’s about: Flynn (Bridges) first went into the grid in 1982 and according to the premise of Tron: Legacy, he is still there — by choice and by necessity. His son (Hedlund) heads into the neon world finding his father and so much more.
Interesting fact: It’s taken 28 years to bring a Tron sequel to the big screen and after witnessing the film, it is more than worth the wait.
Yogi Bear
Starring: Justin Timberlake, Dan Aykroyd
What it’s about: The long-running kiddie favorite cartoon hits the big screen for the first time in live action. Aykroyd is the title character with Timberlake chiming in as his little sidekick, Boo-Boo.
Interesting fact: Will the fact that the film’s in 3D help draw audiences? Time will tell!
December 22
Country Strong
Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Leighton Meester
What it’s about: Gwyneth Paltrow sings! Paltrow portrays a country singer who has fallen on hard times caused by alcoholism. She fights her way back with her mentor McGraw, all while fending off the attention-stealing country music star of tomorrow played by Leighton Meester.
Interesting fact: Gwyneth Paltrow sang all of her own songs and after her reception performing the title song at the recent Country Music Awards, she may find herself a nominee in the near future.
Little Fockers
Starring: Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, Teri Polo, Jessica Alba
What it’s about: It has taken ten years, two baby Fockers with wife Pam (Polo) and countless hurdles for Greg (Ben Stiller) to finally score points with his tightly wound father-in-law, Jack (De Niro). After the cash-strapped dad takes a job moonlighting for a drug company, however, Jack’s suspicions about his favorite male nurse come roaring back.
Interesting fact:Little Fockers adds to its cast for the next installment with Jessica Alba joining the fold!
Gulliver’s Travels
Starring: Jack Black
What it’s about: The movie based on the classic tale brings Jack Black into a world where he is the biggest thing around. The only problem is the bigger they are, the harder they fall. The CGI-heavy film comes from the mind of Jonathan Swift, a master of black comedy.
Interesting fact: Somewhat of a departure for Jack Black, perhaps he is now bringing his comic mayhem to more children-friendly fare after his successful turn in Kung Fu Panda.
Casino Jack
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper
What it’s about: Inspired by true events, the film showcases the wild excesses and escapades of real-life lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Abramoff is helped in his efforts by his business partner Michael Scanlon (Pepper). Jack parlays his clout over some of the world’s most powerful men with the goal of creating a personal empire of wealth and influence.
Interesting fact: With a story so close to home in terms of its current relevancy, will Casino Jack score with audiences or will they shun the film because of the pain of reliving a scar on the American political scene?
December 25
True Grit
Starring: Matt Damon, Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin
What it’s about: A remake of the classic western has exploding buzz on how the Coen brothers will tackle one of the best westerns ever put on screen.
Interesting fact: The film is opening in select theaters on December 25 in order to qualify for the Academy Awards, but watch for it to land in theaters nationwide in 2011.
The Illusionist
Starring: Jean-Claude Donda, Edith Rankin
What it’s about: When a French illusionist comes to the realization that he is part of a fading-from-memory art form, he travels to Scotland where he meets a young woman that will change his life forever.
Interesting fact: The Illusionist is from the mind of filmmaker Sylvain Chomet, the director of The Triplets of Belleville.
The Rebound
Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Justin Bartha
What it’s about: Zeta-Jones plays a woman who leaves her husband and takes her child to the big city where she meets a much younger man. The two soon fall in love and the holiday cinematic romance is on!
Interesting fact: The hardly seen of late Zeta-Jones marks her leading lady return to the silver screen!
December 31
Blue Valentine
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams
What it’s about: A modern look at the world of marriage in 2010.
Interesting fact: The film received an NC-17 rating and is currently fighting the box office killer of a rating.
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